By Max Deck Print | Buyer guidance | September 2026
A deck can contain the correct number of cards and still be wrong. Preventing missing or duplicate cards requires a card-by-card manifest, not just a total count. For a custom card game, record each face, its matching back, copies per set and the deck or compartment where it belongs.
One missing objective card can stop a game. One duplicated resource card can change its balance. These problems are especially difficult to spot when several cards share similar artwork. Treat collation, the selection and arrangement of components in each set, as a separate approval task from print quality.
Why does checking the total card count miss errors?
A count answers how many cards are present, not whether they are the right cards. If a 60-card set contains two copies of a card that should appear once and omits another card, the total remains 60. A stack-height or weight check alone also cannot reliably identify that substitution.
Start by separating three quantities: unique designs, physical cards per set and complete sets ordered. For example, 20 unique faces with three copies of each face produce 60 physical cards. The following is an illustrative specification, not a standard game format.
| Card group | Unique faces | Copies each | Cards per set |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resource R01-R12 | 12 | 3 | 36 |
| Action A01-A06 | 6 | 3 | 18 |
| Objective O01-O02 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| Total | 20 | Not applicable | 60 |
What belongs in a production card manifest?
Give each design a stable ID that survives artwork revisions. A filename such as R01_Front_v03.pdf is more useful than final-newest.pdf. The ID can remain in the production manifest even when it is not printed on the finished card.
- Card ID and exact front filename.
- Back filename, including whether it is shared with another group.
- Copies of that design in each complete set.
- Deck group, packing position and required face orientation.
- Language, edition and approved artwork revision.
- Any special finish limited to that design.
Put exceptions in the same manifest. A promotional card, alternative-language rule card or bonus expansion must not depend on a note in a separate email. State which retail version receives the extra item and which version does not.
How should the assembled sample be checked?
Review one complete assembled reference against the manifest, then define the checks required for the production batch. A complete sample confirms the intended specification; it does not prove that every production set is correct. Agree the inspection method and sampling scope separately.
- Lay out the cards by ID and count the copies of every design.
- Turn each group over and verify the correct back and orientation.
- Check rules, dividers and any separate decks against the contents list.
- Pack the approved set into the box and photograph the arrangement.
- Record the approved manifest revision and resolve discrepancies before release.
As an industry reference, Panda Game Manufacturing describes separate pre-production, mass-production and assembly checkpoints. The practical lesson for buyers is to distinguish artwork approval from approval of a complete packed game. The checkpoints for your order should be agreed with your own manufacturer.
What changes need a new collation review?
Recheck the manifest when a design is added, removed, translated or moved between editions. Replacing a single PDF is not enough if the rules, printed contents count or packing sequence also change. Ask for an updated approval record identifying what changed and which earlier version it replaces.
For a custom card game project, fixed contents and randomized packs are different requirements. Do not assume a factory quoting complete fixed sets is also quoting randomized rarity distribution or booster-pack assembly.
Frequently asked questions
Is a PDF page count enough to specify the deck?
No. One PDF page might require several copies, and different groups may use different backs. Supply the copies per design and front-to-back mapping alongside the print files.
Should the order include replacement cards?
Discuss replacement components before ordering. Specify the designs, quantities and how they should be packed. Do not assume spares are included in the quoted price.
What should I send when reporting a missing card?
Send the order and batch reference, set version, missing card ID, photographs of the remaining contents and the number of sets affected. Keep the packaging and affected cards available for review.
Start your quote with a contents list
Max Deck Print reviews custom card projects from 1,000 complete sets. Include a draft manifest with your project quote request, even if the artwork is unfinished. A clear contents list makes the printing, assembly and packaging requirements easier to define.